Whether you’ve heard two dozen times by now or none at all, Trump’s controversial remarks bear repeating:
"When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best," he said. "They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
There aren’t a lot of ways to misread that. A major US presidential candidate characterized most Mexican immigrants as being rapists and drug dealers, instantly alienating an entire group of people. A curious way to start what is essentially the nation’s most expensive popularity contest.
Most recently, celebrity chef Jose Andres canceled plans to open a restaurant in Trump’s new hotel in Washington, DC. Andres released a statement saying Trump’s comments "make it impossible for my company and I to move forward."
And on Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it would rename three navigational points which were (for some reason) named after Trump.
He did, at least, earn a coveted cameo on the Simpsons.
It’s not a good time to be Trump the Businessman. Trump the Politician, however, is on fire. After spending the last few weeks trailing GOP frontrunner Jeb Bush, all of the media attention seems to have catapulted Trump into – believe it or not – the lead.
In a new poll conducted by the Economist and YouGov, 15% of respondents named Trump as their preferred GOP nominee. That’s four whole points above Jeb Bush, who is also tied with Kentucky Senator Rand Paul at 11%.
Still, even with those impressive poll numbers, he may be unable to hold onto the lead in the long-term. Those same respondents didn’t seem to have much faith in their preferred candidate, as 29% expected Jeb Bush to earn the nomination. Trump ranked fifth in that poll, with only 7% of respondents giving odds to the billionaire.
Trump may also have an uphill battle with the strategic elites of his own party. Rumors circulated earlier this week that Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus had called Trump to request that he tone down his rhetoric.
If Trump’s poll numbers start to slide, will his business relations just as magically return? Stranger things have happened. Of course, if Trump does manage to secure the Republican nomination, and even less likely, the White House, Trump the Businessman will have to take a four year vacation, anyway.
